Was invited by a Jewish family living in Manhattan to share their Shabbat on a Saturday when I once visited New York, and as I watched the four candles being lit, two for the couple, my two friends and the smaller ones for their two children, I saw in their…
Just One Choir Voice..!
There was once a priest who had his choir in the church which he looked after, and the choir was the best bunch of choristers that had ever graced the parish. People would not afford to miss the time the choir sang at different places. The priest died three days…
Paternity Leave Bill..!
My young neighbour Kumar whose wife was expecting a baby, rode in the lift with me to the car park below, “How’s the wife?” I asked pleasantly. “Very excited!” said Kumar mournfully. “But you don’t seem to be? Something worrying you?” I asked, “I know the name of a very…
Leavin’ Footprints in Yer Home..!
Been watchin’ an old video of the Chinese Olympic opening night held over a decade ago, and been gazing spellbound at them eleven thousand sports people from all over the world, stampin’ their footprints on huge parchment paper at Beijing. Remarkable idea what? Maybe huh, just maybe years later they…
Inflation and a Hundred Rupee Note..!
I opened the morning paper and frowned as I read headlines about inflation in India, “This is ridiculous!” I muttered to myself. “What is dad?” “This inflation business, there’s no inflation, but because there’s no news, papers make a big hullabaloo about prices going up, scaring everybody, especially voters before…
The Fake from Charleston..!
It was at the historic city of Charleston I found the flute. I’d wandered into one of the oldest markets in the USA, the City Market, it’s old brick walls and tiled roof pouted history to all who ventured in. But my eyes were fixed on the flute shop. Most…
As Is Where Is Condition..!
In many an auction you hear the auctioneer offering some particular piece in an ‘as is where is condition’! Which means that it is being sold in its current condition, whatever this condition happens to be. But do we accept people as they are? Do we take our husbands as…
Passion, It’s Free..!
If today’s column has come in a little late, t’was because I was in the plane flying home from New York. And even as I flew something that stands out vividly in that city is it’s passion! A passion for enjoying work with subways and roads filled with millionaires and…
Pardoning is a Bigger Revenge..!
Some years ago I read how an Indian sentenced to death by UAE’s Supreme Court for murdering a girl had been pardoned by the victim’s parents! As a father of two daughters I can only look at such an act of mercy as beyond human understanding, divine and holy. I…
An Excitingly Still New Year..!
And as the New Year dawned this morning, there was I am sure a missing feeling for the partying and fun and revelry that has been banned. The rich must have missed paying exorbitant rates to go to five star hotels and others to terrace parties. Out on the streets…
Robert Clements is a newspaper columnist and writes a daily column, which has graced the pages of over 60 newspapers and magazines, from a daily column in the Khaleej Times, Dubai, the Morning Star, London, and in nearly every state in India, from The Statesman in Kolkata, to the Kashmir Times in Kashmir to the Trinity Mirror in Chennai.